CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenue:
Oxide plant lease		$ 1,771	$ 1,729	$ 5,107	$ 4,768
Total revenue		1,771	1,729	5,107	4,768
Costs and expenses:
Oxide plant lease costs		(619)	(549)	(1,704)	(1,478)
Exploration expense		(977)	(927)	(1,968)	(2,865)
El Quevar project (expense) income		(183)	65	(524)	(308)
Velardena shutdown and care and maintenance costs		(379)	(456)	(1,098)	(1,589)
Administrative expense		(694)	(897)	(2,592)	(3,141)
Stock based compensation		7	(95)	(300)	(666)
Reclamation expense		(49)	(47)	(146)	(144)
Other operating income, net		951	1,281	1,813	1,558
Depreciation and amortization		(138)	(346)	(456)	(1,317)
Total costs and expenses		(2,081)	(1,971)	(6,975)	(9,950)
Loss from operations		(310)	(242)	(1,868)	(5,182)
Other income and (expense):
Interest expense					(515)
Interest and other income		15	10	37	12
Warrant derivative gain (loss)			(545)		(2,821)
Derivative loss					(778)
Loss on debt extinguishment					(1,653)
Loss on foreign currency		(23)	(21)	(20)	(63)
Total other income (expense)		(8)	(556)	17	(5,818)
Loss from operations before income taxes		(318)	(798)	(1,851)	(11,000)
Income tax benefit					26
Net loss		(318)	(798)	(1,851)	(10,974)
Comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized (loss) gain on securities		11	107	(92)	278
Comprehensive loss		$ (307)	$ (691)	$ (1,943)	$ (10,696)
Net loss per common share — basic
Loss (in dollars per share)		$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.14)
Weighted average common stock outstanding - basic (in shares)	[1]	91,097,279	88,878,371	90,028,480	78,080,858

[1] Potentially dilutive shares have not been included because to do so would be anti-dilutive.